"That's a pretty name." said the little girl "Juno, are you an angel?" Juno laughed and the little girl smiled.
"No child, not an angel." she told the girl "I am a friend." The girl looked down in disappointment.
"Oh." was all she managed. Juno noticed the sadness in the girl's voice.
"Do you like adventures?" Juno asked the girl. The girl brightened and nodded eagerly.
"Well you are in good fortune." Juno continued "I need someone to do something very special for me and you seem capable enough." The girl smiled.
"Can we go now?" she asked. Juno shook her head.
"No. First you must be a little older." She said "Then I will send you on your quest. What is your name child?" The little girl frowned.
"Diana." she said "But I don't like that name. I like Alice because it was my mommy's name and it's my middle name." Juno frowned at the girl.
"Would you like to be called Alice?" she asked. Alice nodded and smiled. Juno surveyed the little girl.
"It suits you." she decided "Alice it is."
I groggily opened my eyes and winced when the bright light of day met my deprived eyes. I blinked a few times so my eyesight could adjust.
"What happened?" I mumbled. I sat up and instantly pain shot through my skull.
"Oh. OW!" I cried "Bad idea, bad idea, BAD IDEA!" I groaned and pulled my knees to my chest, laying my head on top of my knees.
"I could use some Advil right about now." I mumbled. I raised my head slowly when I heard a door open and close.
"So you are awake." said the ruff voice of Conner. I met his eyes and tried for a smile.
"Yeah..." I said quietly "Although not happily so. Did I miss anything?" Conner crossed his arms and stood there, surveying me.
"Besides the long trek back to the Homestead, no." he answered at last. I smiled apologetically.
"I was out for a while I guess." I mumbled.
"Two days." Conner supplied. I winced and my hand went for my head, only to be met with bandages. My hand lowered and I started to get out of the bed.
"What are you doing?" Conner asked. I looked at him and rolled my eyes.
"Um...Getting out of bed?" I asked rhetorically "What does it look like?"
"You should rest." Conner stressed. I stood up, ignoring the pain from my injury.
"I've rested for two days." I told him "And that was only because I had no choice. I need to move around."
I savored the words of the book. I had once again picked up The Taming of the Shrew and was almost done. Achilles was working on papers regarding the Homestead, even in the 18th century they had bills. We were both enjoying each others company in silence. Conner had gone to work on a ship called the Aquila. I would have joined him if he hadn't forbidden it because of my head injury. I closed the book with a sigh and set it down on my lap.
"Not of your taste tonight?" Achilles asked, not looking up from his work. I shrugged and stared into space.
"I dunno Achilles." I replied wistfully "Something seems missing..." Achilles turned to face me.
"My dear girl, that is a symptom for practically anything." he said with a small smile. I laughed and then sighed again.
"I just feel empty inside Achilles." I told him "I don't know if it's homesickness or what. But there's a nagging feeling in my brain. It's like someone is trying to tell me something without speaking, it's irritating."
"Perhaps your injury is affecting your intellect." Achilles teased. I glared at him.
"That was just rude." I spat playfully. Achilles chuckled and went back to his papers.
"I'm sure you'll think of it." he assured me. I went back to staring at open space.
"I hope so."
Six months later
"Ratonhnhake':ton!" shouted an unfamiliar voice "Ratonhnhake':ton!" I closed my book and flew down the stairs to see what was going on.
"Kanen'to':kon? Why are you here? Has something happened?" Conner asked the Native American man that was in the Homestead.
"William Johnson has returned - with all the money required to buy our land! He meets with the elders as we speak. I have begged them to resist, but I fear he shall have his way unless you intervene!" Kanen'to':kon explained quickly. My eyes widened. But we destroyed the tea!
"How is this possible? We destroyed the tea!" Conner said, echoing my thoughts.
"Please, you have to stop him." begged Kanen'to':kon.
"Of course. Can you tell me where they are meeting?" Conner asked.
"Johnson Hall is just across the river. The water is well guarded, Ratonhnhake':ton."
"Wait for me there." Conner ordered. He left with his friend and I started to creep quietly upstairs until Achilles stopped me.
"Alice?" he called "A moment of your time?" I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
"Uh...yeah of course!" I replied "You're the Boss." I descended the stairs and followed Achilles to a wall with a single candle holder decorating it. Achilles limped over to it and pulled the candle holder. A few moments later and the wall opened up to reveal a secret passageway. Achilles started to hobble down the stairway into the depths and I felt obliged to follow.
"Wow..." I whispered in awe. I heard Achilles chuckle.
"You've been living here for quite a while Miss. Alice." He pointed out. I winced. I was totally called out just now.
"And Conner and I have told you of the Brotherhood already." Achilles continued "Although you have certain... flaws... concerning focus and somewhat lack a few physical attributes such as strength and endurance, I want to show you something and ask you a very important question. It might change your life." We made it to the bottom of the stairs and Achilles walked over to a desk with several portraits hanging over it. Notes were written in chalk besides each one and I studied the faces and names of the people depicted.
"Charles Lee..." I muttered "Hey, isn't he that Templar that burned down Conner's village?" Achilles nodded.
"All these men work for the Templar order in the colonies." He informed me. I studied each picture again.
"Haytham Kenway?" I asked "Isn't Kenway Conner's last name?" Achilles nodded.
"Haytham is Conner's father." He told me. My lips parted slightly in an 'oh'. Conner's family was messed up.
"Soooo..." I said, turning to look at Achilles "Why am I down here exactly?" Achilles gestured to a wall nearby, it sported a bunch of weapons. Some I recognized, while others were foreign.
"What do you see over there?" He inquired.
"Weapons." I responded instantly. Achilles nodded.
"Do you understand what I'm asking of you?" He asked. I had a pretty good idea, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
"Are you asking me to dust?" I joked. Achilles gave me a glare and I looked down shamefully.
"Alice." He said seriously. I met his eyes and squirmed a little.
"Are you asking to join the Brotherhood?" I asked quietly. Achilles nodded, both in confirmation and in an approving sense.
"Indeed I am." He said "Feel honored, I do not ask this lightly." I looked at the ground and thought. I had no idea how long I was going to be here. I needed to learn to defend myself and if I did it for a good cause at the same time, that was an extra bonus. But a part of me repelled the thought of killing people, I was not that type of person.
Or are you? Have you just not given yourself the chance to find out?
"I undersand if you need time to think it over." Achilles said "But from what I have heard and seen, you show values that most assassins spend years trying to obtain, however you lack some qualities most desirable." I looked at him sharply.
"Like what?" I challenged. Achilles smiled.
"Focus."
Oh, that's it! Challenge accepted old man!
"Don't need time to think it over." I told him "I want to join, we can start right now." Achilles shook his head.
"While your eagerness is admirable, you seem to forget I am an old man." He stated, shaking his head "We will begin tomorrow." He started his ascent up the stairs, then paused to look at me.
"Actually," he started "I wouldn't mind if you gave this place a dusting."
I woke up early the next morning out of nervousness or excitement I couldn't decide. I got dressed with my usual blouse and leather pants, but I also added my hoodie since it was getting colder. I finished tying the laces of my CONVERSE and bounded out of my room and down the stairs. I entered the kitchen and was greeted by Achilles and Conner.
"Good morning Gents!" I greeted. Conner raised an eyebrow and Achilles nodded in greeting. I sat down in front of Conner.
"So you said that we were going to start today, right Achilles?" I asked the older man. He frowned.
"Not in this weather." He said "I'm afraid it snowed overnight and my joints are acting up. So instead, Conner will be teaching you today." Conner looked up sharply after this.
"Teaching her what exactly?" He demanded. I looked over to Achilles.
"Can I tell him?" I asked childishly "PLEEEEAAASSE?" Achilles chuckled.
"No child." He replied "I think it's best that it comes from me." Conner looked between both of suspiciously.
"Tell me what?" He demanded. Achilles smiled softly.
"I have given Alice here the chance to become part of the Brotherhood." He said "Today you will be training her." Conner looked at me and then Achilles.
"Fine." He smoothly agreed. I blinked in surprise, I expected more of a fight. Apparently Achilles did too because he had the same expression.
"Alright then." He said finally "Both of you go ahead then. Conner, start off easy on her." Conner nodded and got up, I followed suit. We both left the Homestead and I sighed into the cool air and delighted in the sight of freshly fallen snow.
"See all of this snow?" Conner asked me. I raised an eyebrow.
"Kind of hard to miss." I replied. Conner gave me a sharp glance and I shrugged.
"Clear the path to the Homestead." He said "After you're done, find me." He grabbed a shovel that was leaning up against the Homestead and handed it to me. Then, he left to go do God knows what.
"Be an assassin they said." I muttered "It'll be fun they said."
Three long, painful, hours of shoveling later, not a speck of snow was present on the path to the Homestead. I smiled in triumph.
"Well done." said a certain Native. I turned to see Conner inspecting my work shoveling.
"Follow me." He ordered. He set off and I did in fact, follow him. We walked for a little while before we came to a small clearing. There was a pile of large pieces of wood and a tree stump with an axe leaning on it. Conner picked up the axe and held it out for me. I took it warily from him and grunted at the weight of it, but held it with both hands. Conner set up a piece of wood on the stump.
"Show me how to cut this piece of wood in half." He ordered. I look at him and then the wood.
"Okay..." I mumbled uncertainly "This better not turn out like the Karate Kid. Oh God, let it not be Karate Kid."
A/N- WOO! I am good! So far I'm on a roll with writing these chapters! But I don't want to jinx it...so no more celebrating. So Alice is going to be an any thoughts? Any suggestions or ideas? Please PM or review to let me know! Lexington and Concord chapters are coming up soon along with a special surprise!
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Bye!- Savespot